A PLAQUE commemorating employees at a former Bolton factory who fought in the world wars has been returned to its original home.

The memorial, which is five feet high, remembers men from the tannery works of William Walker and Sons Ltd who lost their lives in both wars.

It is believed company owner John Walker served as the Colonel of the Bolton Royal Artillery during the First World War, with many of the company employees under his command.

It is thought the memorial was made after the First World War in 1919 and was added to at the end of World War Two.

The memorial was discovered during the renovation of a former Walker's factory site, now owned by insulation supplier Sound Reduction Systems Ltd, in Adam Street on the outskirts of the town centre.

The memorial is now being housed at the Bolton Royal Artillery Territorial Army barracks in Nelson Street, which is on the site of the main Walkers tannery and which would have been the original workplace of many of those named.

The memorial was once housed in the foyer of the tannery, but was moved to the Adam Street building when it became the last remaining factory under Walkers' control.

The tannery closed in the early 1980s after 159 years in business in the town.

The memorial remained on the wall of the factory when it was taken over by Superior Pet Products in 1980, until Sound Reduction Systems manager Julian Donnelly decided it would be better appreciated elsewhere.

He contacted Bolton United Services Veterans Association and the Combined Ex-service Men and Women's Association, who arranged for the memorial to be taken to the barracks.

It is in perfect condition and will be mounted in the drill hall.

Mr Donnelly said: "It was wasted where it had been. No-one would have ever been able to see it and appreciate it where it was. We wanted it to be put in a place where it would be looked after and seen." Alan Rogerson, museum curator at the barracks, said: "This is part of not only the town's history, but that of the Bolton Royal Artillery. In the drill hall, the plaque will be preserved as well as the names of those from Walkers who died.

"It is very important that memorials such as these are preserved as part of our history."